Kenny Dalglish has admitted he would be "delighted" to accept the Liverpool manager's job on a full-time basis after Damien Comolli, the club's director of football strategy, confirmed the club legend will be considered for the post at the end of the season.

The 59-year-old was officially unveiled as Liverpool's temporary manager yesterday, 24 hours after his first game in charge for almost 20 years ended in FA Cup defeat at Manchester United. Dalglish insisted he had no qualms about the brevity of his appointment by the club's principal owners, John W Henry and Tom Werner, and would happily stand aside once his five-month stint is over.

However, as he stated on several occasions yesterday, that would be on the basis that "someone better than me comes along" and it was his reservations over last summer's candidates to succeed Rafael Benítez that led to Dalglish putting his name forward.

Asked if he would accept an offer to continue beyond the end of this campaign, Dalglish said: "If they think I can help then I'll help any which way I can. If that means I'm not here, then OK. If that means I'm here, then I'd be delighted with that. The football club is much more important than any individual that's ever been involved or is involved with it."

Comolli has been charged with "putting together a criteria" for Roy Hodgson's permanent replacement, according to Ian Ayre, the Liverpool commercial director, who unveiled Dalglish in the same Anfield trophy room where the Scot announced his shock departure as manager 20 years ago. It was believed Fenway Sports Group wanted to install a young coach this summer, even before bringing forward plans to part company with Hodgson, but Dalglish's five-month tenure is effectively an interview for the job after Comolli admitted he met the criteria required.

Liverpool's director of football strategy, who was instrumental in Juande Ramos's appointment at Tottenham Hotspur when he held a similar position at White Hart Lane, said: "What we're looking for is: competence, someone who will fit into the club's philosophy, the playing philosophy, and he has to be huge on man management.

"Those would be the three things that are most important to the club. The job is open to those people that I have described and, obviously, Kenny will come in to that category because he is exactly what I have described. Will he be considered? The answer is 'yes'. It will be a thorough search of where we want to go. But we will speak to Kenny about it and then see where it takes us."

Comolli also revealed the managerial change would not prompt a rethink on FSG's approach to transfers, with the Frenchman and Dalglish, like Hodgson before him, still having to convince the owners of a player's worth before a signing is authorised. He said: "If Kenny is not happy with a player we think could make the team better, or if he doesn't think it is the right timing, then it is down to the manager. That hasn't changed from when I joined the club a few weeks ago."

Dalglish made his first appointment as manager yesterday when the former Chelsea, West Ham United and Newcastle United coach Steve Clarke joined the backroom staff at Liverpool. He will work alongside Sammy Lee, the assistant manager under Benítez and Hodgson, while Mike Kelly, the first‑team and goalkeeping coach, will leave this week and Dalglish does not envisage a coaching role for Jamie Carragher in the short term. Clarke was at Chelsea when José Mourinho won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two Carling Cups over three seasons and the Liverpool manager said: "He was very instrumental in the success of several clubs, none less so than Mourinho's spell at Chelsea so we've got a decent guy there."

Despite the possibility of a permanent managerial role at Liverpool, however, Dalglish insisted he understood his immediate remit from FSG and would not be a hindrance to any rival candidate. "My understanding is it is until the end of the season and that is no problem for me. I've heard stories about me demanding this or that – when I was phoned early on Saturday morning it was a straightforward 'yes' and that was it for me. There are no conditions, no promises, nothing.

"If I do really well and somebody better than me comes along there will not be any problem whatsoever. I will not be obtrusive in any way, shape or form. I'm here to be of help to the club and if being of help to the club means Kenny Dalglish is not the manager, then no problem."